# Driving: Flash to Pass -- A Polite Request in the USA, or Not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 21, 2017, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677 "2017-03-21T06:16:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/21 "2017-03-21T16:07:45Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > FWIW I was taught the same thing, except in cities, where I nearly always was. I was taught that (to use the horn when passing) as well. Indeed, I remember a film in driver’s ed which advised frequently giving drivers who might not see you “a friendly toot of the horn, just to let them know you’re there.” I can’t imagine doing that these days! It’s only relatively recently that I’ve heard of flashing your lights as a signal that you want to pass. I tend to think of it as a European thing, and I don’t notice many people in the U.S. doing it. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/22 "2017-03-21T16:17:58Z")
and just so everyone’s clear, speeding is never legally acceptable, even to pass. if you cant do whatever maneuver it is youre trying to do within the legal speed limit then youre not allowed to do it. driving at the speed limit is **NOT** driving slow! and anyone who says otherwise is the “arsehole” if you want to speed thats up to you. but dont ask anyone (politely or not) to change lanes for you. mc ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/23 "2017-03-21T16:39:08Z")
From Lyerly v Griffin, 1953, North Carolina court ruling, the following quotation from the NC traffic code in force at the time: “The driver of an overtaking motor vehicle not within a business or residence district, as herein defined, shall give audible warning with his horn or other warning device before passing or attempting to pass a vehicle proceeding in the same direction.” G.S. § 20-149(b). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/24 "2017-03-21T16:42:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I suspect you are misremembering that. The horn is suppose to be reserved to alert people of danger. When I last took an online driving class with a defensive driving portion, they encouraged liberal use of the horn. > [@kunilou](#): > > To be specific, the real assholes tailgate you AND hit their brights. Which is why flashing your lights is seen by some as aggressive. With the trend for larger vehicles with more height, I find that high beams and regular lights are hard to tell apart when they’re coming the opposite direction. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/25 "2017-03-21T16:42:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > In CA (or at least here in NorCal) most people seem to think they have a God-given right to drive whatever speed they like in the left lane. It’s true lots of other places. No matter where you drive, if you’re in the passing lane going 72 in a 65 mph zone to get by a slower vehicle, it’s a given that someone will roar up behind you at 85 mph under the impression that you must _immediately_ floor it, or dematerialize so that they can continue their bat-out-of-hell impression. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/26 "2017-03-21T16:55:34Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > No, the real assholes don’t get out of the way. No the _real_ assholes are the ones who come up & tailgate you when you’re not the first car in the left lane. You see, schmuck\*, I can’t be going any faster because of one (or more) cars in front of me. You don’t have any more right to go faster than I do, so get outta my trunk &/or don’t flash me to pull outta your way. I was amazed at driving the German / Polish Autobahns. Two lanes & less traffic congestion than three lanes in the US; this was because everyone followed the “Keep right except to pass rule” If you were driving faster than the car you were approaching, there was no need to do anything because as soon as they safely passed that truck in the right lane, they’d pull over into the right lane. Yes, you might need to let off the gas or kill the cruise control for a minute but you knew they were passing as fast as they were comfortable with & would be out of your way in a few seconds. - behind me, not **Fleetwood** ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/27 "2017-03-21T16:57:34Z")
In the US it seems more regional. In Georgia and the Carolinas I’ve seen it fairly regular, in PA and NY almost never. Can’t really speak to the west much. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/28 "2017-03-21T17:24:36Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > and just so everyone’s clear, speeding is never legally acceptable, even to pass. if you cant do whatever maneuver it is youre trying to do within the legal speed limit then youre not allowed to do it. driving at the speed limit is **NOT** driving slow! and anyone who says otherwise is the “arsehole” if you want to speed thats up to you. but dont ask anyone (politely or not) to change lanes for you. > mc Wow. I’m surprised it took 22 posts to get to this response. I would like to exclaim “You’re the guy!”, but there are millions of you out there. And, no, it is not clear to everyone that speed limit laws trump keep-right laws or driving etiquette. Many states outlaw left lane camping, so you are really arguing that one law is more important than another. Whether illegal or not, it’s obvious that impeding traffic flow is more dangerous and hostile than driving a few miles over the speed limit. > [@](#): > > It’s only relatively recently that I’ve heard of flashing your lights as a signal that you want to pass. I tend to think of it as a European thing, and I don’t notice many people in the U.S. doing it. I’ve known about it since the 70s, when I started driving. Of course, I read Car & Driver magazine since I was 13 or so. I used to flash my headlights to remind drivers to move right, but I haven’t done it for several years because it was almost always met with either a stubborn refusal to move over or outright hostility. It really seems to be perceived as being rude and aggressive, which is preposterous. I have tried putting my left turn signal on instead, and have had better results. It seems to be better received, but still only works less than half the time. Frankly, it’s easier to just pass on the right. While I don’t particularly like doing that, it is sometimes apparent that a left lane camper just isn’t going to move right until they are a quarter-mile from their exit, at which point they will move right in a hurry, cutting off other drivers. They own the road, in their mind, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/29 "2017-03-21T17:35:05Z")
I took driver’s ed back in 1954 in Texas; we were taught to flash high beam as a signal of intent to pass. It was a common practice back then but I think it has largely fallen out of favor. As has a lot of what used to be common courtesy. Now, get the hell off my lawn or face my wrath. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/30 "2017-03-21T17:48:13Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It’s true lots of other places. > > No matter where you drive, if you’re in the passing lane going 72 in a 65 mph zone to get by a slower vehicle, it’s a given that someone will roar up behind you at 85 mph under the impression that you must _immediately_ floor it, or dematerialize so that they can continue their bat-out-of-hell impression. When I’m in that situation, in the passing lane, doing 75 and passing traffic that’s doing 70, if someone comes up fast behind me I turn on my signal early to signal my intention to move right as soon as I pass the slower car(s). When I do, the car behind me is more likely to be patient. I feel no compelling reason to increase my rate of passing, as long as I’m making decent progress passing the traffic to my right. They usually are okay with it. The keys are to signal, and to be making decent progress passing. But if they’re more aggressive, either flashing lights or close on my tail, I figure it’s possible they may have an emergency of sorts, maybe even a medical urgency or an urgent safety concern (e.g., kid called from home telling mother that the father is there and mad and yelling and breaking things - maybe they’re in a bitter divorce, who knows?), **then I move quickly to my right _after first ensuring it is safe to do so_**. If I had an urgent situation and the roles were reversed, I’d appreciate people getting out of my way. Golden Rule, and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/31 "2017-03-21T17:54:55Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > Wow. I’m surprised it took 22 posts to get to this response. I would like to exclaim “You’re the guy!”, but there are millions of you out there. And, no, it is not clear to everyone that speed limit laws trump keep-right laws or driving etiquette. Many states outlaw left lane camping, so you are really arguing that one law is more important than another. Whether illegal or not, it’s obvious that impeding traffic flow is more dangerous and hostile than driving a few miles over the speed limit. This. You can actually get a ticket if you are doing the limit in the passing lane, if you are blocking faster traffic behind you. And you can actually get a ticket if you are going over the limit in the passing lane, if you are blocking faster traffic behind you. I have discussed this with LE, it is an interesting fact. As **Orwell** says, impeding traffic flow can be dangerous. And I’ve been reading Road & Track since I was 14. An occassional Car & Driver and Motor Trend here and there, too. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/32 "2017-03-21T17:57:21Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > When I’m in that situation, in the passing lane, doing 75 and passing traffic that’s doing 70, if someone comes up fast behind me I turn on my signal early to signal my intention to move right as soon as I pass the slower car(s). When I do, the car behind me is more likely to be patient. I feel no compelling reason to increase my rate of passing, as long as I’m making decent progress passing the traffic to my right. They usually are okay with it. The keys are to signal, and to be making decent progress passing. > > But if they’re more aggressive, either flashing lights or close on my tail, I figure it’s possible they may have an emergency of sorts, maybe even a medical urgency or an urgent safety concern (e.g., kid called from home telling mother that the father is there and mad and yelling and breaking things - maybe they’re in a bitter divorce, who knows?), **then I move quickly to my right _after first ensuring it is safe to do so_**. > > If I had an urgent situation and the roles were reversed, I’d appreciate people getting out of my way. > > Golden Rule, and all that. Exactly right. I put my right signal on before I get to the front of the vehicle to my right, so the person behind me knows that I intend to move over. I’ll also speed up a bit in many cases to complete my pass quicker. I have no way to know why the driver behind me is in hurry - an emergency or just expediency - but I have no problem with letting them by to continue on their way. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/33 "2017-03-21T17:59:25Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > This. You can actually get a ticket if you are doing the limit in the passing lane, if you are blocking faster traffic behind you. And you can actually get a ticket if you are going over the limit in the passing lane, if you are blocking faster traffic behind you. Unfortunately, I never see the keep-right law enforced by police. The left lane campers DO know better, however, as they always move right when a cop comes up behind them. So, it’s not ignorance, it’s passive aggressive hostility. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/34 "2017-03-21T18:01:24Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I took driver’s ed back in 1954 in Texas; we were taught to flash high beam as a signal of intent to pass. It was a common practice back then but I think it has largely fallen out of favor. As has a lot of what used to be common courtesy. Now, get the hell off my lawn or face my wrath. I practice it and give a friendly flash. If they move right I give a wave as I pass them. As I do it is my hope that this “language” becomes more common. If they don’t move right then sometimes I pass on the right, and if I do I usually don’t look over. I don’t care if they’re mad or flipping the bird or whatever. Usually when I notice them, they’re just clueless. The rear view mirror was required to be sold with their car, and they don’t know that it’s for driving and not checking if there’s spinach from lunch on their teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/35 "2017-03-21T18:04:34Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > Exactly right. I put my right signal on before I get to the front of the vehicle to my right, so the person behind me knows that I intend to move over. I’ll also speed up a bit in many cases to complete my pass quicker. I have no way to know why the driver behind me is in hurry - an emergency or just expediency - but I have no problem with letting them by to continue on their way. Me too, I often complete my pass faster, especially if their closing speed is a little quick. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/36 "2017-03-21T18:09:54Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > When I’m in that situation, in the passing lane, doing 75 and passing traffic that’s doing 70, if someone comes up fast behind me I turn on my signal early to signal my intention to move right as soon as I pass the slower car(s). When I do, the car behind me is more likely to be patient. I feel no compelling reason to increase my rate of passing, as long as I’m making decent progress passing the traffic to my right. They usually are okay with it. Sadly, I have never found this to be an effective strategy. > [@](#): > > But if they’re more aggressive, either flashing lights or close on my tail, I figure it’s possible they may have an emergency of sorts, maybe even a medical urgency or an urgent safety concern… **then I move quickly to my right _after first ensuring it is safe to do so_**. The “Golden Rule” in these cases generally seems to be that “I’m in a helluva hurry - GET OUT OF MY WAY”. And I will do that, just as soon as I pass these three tightly bunched cars that do not allow me any room to get over, or as soon as the car(s) in front of me in the passing lane create enough space. I cannot vanish on command, no matter how urgently you need to get where you’re going.\* \*in an emergency situation, it’s best to call 911 or similar service to handle the problem. They have actual emergency vehicles which people are very good at pulling over to accomodate. \*\*a big one-finger salute to the driver on my recent vacation, who seeing me and another car slowing down and moving slightly left to avoid animals at road’s edge and stopped rubberneckers, decided this was a great time to pass at high speed, horn blaring. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/37 "2017-03-21T18:14:07Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > NJ driver… > > It’s not that common here. I might flash my lights once every three or four years, and it’s only when someone is probably unaware that they are clogging things up. > > I get flashed from behind once every few years as well, and I move over if I can. > I think it’s kind of rude, but not enough to make a stink about. > > ETA: There’s a distinction between one quick flicker and a rapidly repeated “flash flash flash flash flash”…the former seems to be like saying “excuse me” while the latter is “get outta my way” I’m not totally disagreeing with you; my experiences are only slightly different. If some one flashes me, I get over if I can too. If someone repeatedly flashes me and I’m blocked from doing that (think of it as a “hey, there’s no place I can go, Pal” situation) I’ll put on my right blinker. To me that says, “I’m trying to get over but… oh look… there’s a car there already… which isn’t letting me in right now. I’m more than willing to move over just as soon as I can”. Now if someone is repeatedly flashing their high beams after I’ve put my blinker on, I have to assume its an emergency. Maybe they were playing with a remote control airplane with their kids and a giant ant tore their arm off and they are trying to make it to the hospital. In that case, they have to understand that my car is limited in how I can move. There is a center divider to my left. There is a car to my right. I can speed up (dangerous) and it will take some time to get to a spot where I can move right. I can slow down (slower than the car on my right) and try to move behind him. The guy behind me won’t like that but its honestly the fastest way to get out of this lane. Or I can just be an asshole and drive in increments slower and slower and slower until the person flashing their lights passes me on the right. I prefer not to do that. Something like that is reserved especially for assholes who are blinding me with after-market PID headlights… and well… Fuck Them. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/38 "2017-03-21T18:42:59Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > I’m not totally disagreeing with you; my experiences are only slightly different. … Well, if you are stuck in GWB traffic, it wouldn’t surprise me if things are slightly different :). I don’t get up that way very often. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/39 "2017-03-21T18:47:15Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > Whether illegal or not, it’s obvious that impeding traffic flow is more dangerous and hostile than driving a few miles over the speed limit. > > . . .Frankly, it’s easier to just pass on the right. its seldom a few miles over the limit. and it wasnt so obvious the civil engineers and law makers who came to set the speed limits. no, frankly, its easier not to be a reckless speeding ass! mc ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677/40 "2017-03-21T18:49:47Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > This. You can actually get a ticket if you are doing the limit in the passing lane, if you are blocking faster traffic behind you. And you can actually get a ticket if you are going over the limit in the passing lane, if you are blocking faster traffic behind you. . . > . cite? mc [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-flash-to-pass-a-polite-request-in-the-usa-or-not/782677.md?page=3)